At a Glance
- What it is: REACH is the EU regulation on the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals.
- Who registers: Manufacturers and importers register substances above 1 tonne a year with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).
- Non-EU suppliers: The EU importer usually registers, or a US company appoints an Only Representative.
- Registered is not the whole job: Safety data communication, SVHC checks and restriction checks also apply.
- Buyers should ask for documents: written REACH status, a current Safety Data Sheet and an SVHC statement.
- This guide is general information. Take qualified regulatory advice before you make a compliance claim.
What You’ll Learn
Learn what REACH requires, who must comply, the steps to follow, and which documents buyers should request.
Introduction
REACH compliance affects whether a chemical can be sold in the EU and whether customers will accept your product. The rules cover manufacturers, importers and downstream users, and they reach exporters outside Europe through their customers. Many teams meet the term first in a customer questionnaire and are unsure how to answer. A vague answer can delay an order or cost a customer.
This guide is for chemical manufacturers and for buyers who verify suppliers. It explains what REACH requires, who carries each duty, and how to build the checks into your supplier approval checklist.
It also shows what to ask a supplier for, so a REACH question does not stall a quote or order. It is general information, not legal advice.
What Is REACH Compliance?
Meeting the duties that the EU’s REACH regulation sets for chemicals you make, import or supply is what compliance means. REACH stands for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals, as the European Commission explains. It has applied in all EU Member States since 1 June 2007, and in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is the central point of the system and manages its databases. The aim is to protect human health and the environment from chemical risks. Companies must gather information on their substances and register it.
It applies to substances on their own, in mixtures and, in some cases, in articles.
The Four REACH Processes
REACH works through four linked processes. Each one asks something different of industry or of the authorities.
| Process | What it means | Who acts |
| Registration | Substances above 1 tonne a year are registered with ECHA, with data on properties, uses, hazards and risk management | Manufacturers and importers |
| Evaluation | ECHA and Member States review submitted information to check compliance and possible risks | ECHA and Member States |
| Authorisation | Certain substances of very high concern (SVHCs) need authorisation for specific uses and are meant to be replaced where safer alternatives exist | Companies using listed substances |
| Restriction | Substances that pose an unacceptable risk can be limited or banned in defined uses | EU authorities set the limits; companies follow them |
Who Must Comply With REACH?
Your duties depend on your role in the supply chain. Registration falls on EU-based manufacturers and importers, but non-EU exporters face REACH regulatory compliance demands through their customers. This matters most for global manufacturers shipping into Europe.
- If you manufacture or import in the EU above 1 tonne a year, register the substance with ECHA.
- If you export to the EU from outside, your EU importer normally registers. Many US companies instead appoint an Only Representative to register on their behalf, as trade.gov explains.
- If you import articles that contain Candidate List substances, you may need to notify ECHA and pass on safe-use information.
- If you formulate or buy, follow the Safety Data Sheet and exposure scenarios your supplier provides.
REACH Compliance Requirements for Manufacturers
Manufacturers must identify their substances, register those above the threshold, communicate safe-use information and track the SVHC and restriction lists. Each duty depends on the substance, the volume and your role. Work through the steps in this order.
- Build a substance inventory. List each substance by name, CAS number, volume, use and source.
- Classify hazards and assess risk, using data from chemical testing facilities where needed.
- Register each substance above 1 tonne a year. Companies registering the same substance submit jointly, under ECHA’s one substance, one registration principle.
- Pass safe-use information down the chain with Safety Data Sheets and exposure scenarios.
- Check the Candidate List, Annex XIV and Annex XVII restrictions on a regular schedule.
- Train staff and review your files whenever the rules change.
How to Check a REACH-Compliant Supplier
A REACH-compliant supplier can show the status of each substance in writing. Ask before you approve the source, not after the first shipment.
| Document | What it should show |
| REACH statement of compliance | Which substances it covers, the supplier’s role (manufacturer, importer or Only Representative) and its date |
| Registration status | Whether each substance is registered or exempt, and who holds the registration |
| Current Safety Data Sheet | Hazard and handling data for the exact grade you buy |
| SVHC statement | Whether the product contains any Candidate List substance |
The statement itself is a supplier document, so check its scope rather than its title. Compare each document against the grade and destination market on your order.
Share your substance, destination market and volume, and Request a Quote with the documents you need.
Common Challenges of REACH
Most teams struggle with the same four points. Knowing them early makes planning and budgeting easier.
- Regulatory complexity: The rules cover thousands of substances and take specialist time to interpret.
- Registration cost: Testing, data generation and dossier preparation can be expensive, especially for small companies.
- Data sharing: Joint registration means sharing data. Clear data-sharing agreements address confidentiality concerns.
- Supply chain transparency: Compliance with REACH needs substance data from every supplier in the chain.
Why REACH Matters
REACH matters because it controls market access and customer trust. Non-compliance can lead to enforcement action, so confirm your position with a qualified regulatory adviser.
- Market access: Meeting the rules keeps products eligible for the EU and EEA market.
- Customer trust: Documented REACH status reassures buyers who must prove their own compliance.
- Safer substances: The system pushes the replacement of the most hazardous substances where feasible alternatives exist.
Frequently Asked Questions
These answers cover registration status, exemptions and supplier checks that the sections above do not. Confirm any regulatory point with a qualified adviser.
1. What is a REACH statement of compliance?
It is a document from a supplier describing the REACH status of a product. It is not a registration itself. Check which substances it covers, the date, and the supplier’s role in the chain. Ask for registration details if you need proof that a substance is registered.
2. Is being registered the same as being compliant?
No. Registration is one duty. Compliance also covers safety data, restrictions, the SVHC Candidate List and any authorisation conditions for your uses. A registered substance can still be used in a way the rules do not allow. Check each duty separately.
3. Does REACH apply below 1 tonne a year?
The registration duty applies above 1 tonne a year per substance. Other duties, such as passing on safety information and following restrictions, can still apply. Confirm your position with a qualified adviser, because exemptions and conditions depend on the substance and use.
4. Are any substances exempt from registration?
Yes, in some cases. Exemptions include research and development, waste, polymers, pesticides and biocides. Substances covered by other EU laws, such as medicines and food, are also exempt. Each exemption has conditions, so check its exact scope. Ask your supplier which exemption it relies on.
5. What are REACH compliant materials?
Suppliers use the term loosely. In practice, it should mean each substance in the material is registered or exempt. Restrictions and SVHC obligations should also be checked. Ask for the supporting documents, not only a label, and confirm the destination market.
6. What should I do if a supplier cannot confirm its REACH status?
Pause the approval and request the documents in writing. Ask whether the supplier is the manufacturer, an importer or an Only Representative. If it cannot answer, treat the source as unapproved for EU-bound products until a qualified reviewer clears it.
Conclusion
REACH compliance starts with knowing your role. Manufacturers register and share safety data. Importers and exporters work through registration duties. Buyers verify documents before they approve a source.
Take the steps in order: inventory your substances, register where required, share safe-use information and keep watching the lists. Treat supplier documents as evidence to check, not as formalities. Clear records protect both sides of a sale.
Tell us your substance, destination market and volume, and Request a Quote with the REACH documents you need.
